Piazza Italiana - Restaurant Review

Cuisine: Italian
Style Points: 5/5
Location: City of London
Price: £££
Overall: 4/5

Housed in a spectacular grade-II listed building – the former home of the British Linen Bank - is Piazza Italiana.

Stepping into this restaurant feels like stepping into a sea of opulence, with high ornate ceilings, exquisite chandeliers, Neoclassical Corinthian columns and floor-to-ceiling arched windows. These allow a flood of natural light to the space which only adds to the feeling of majesty.

The Food:

Curated by Sicilian-born culinary maestro Remo Mazzucato who has over 50 years of Italian cooking experience, the menu is made up of antipasti, sharing plates, pasta, meat and fish dishes.

Thankfully the menu doesn’t offer an overly long list of options, which can sometimes be the case with Italian restaurants.

To start with we opted for the intensely creamy Insalata di Pomodori e Burrata – tomatoes with burrata, baron red onion, capers, balsamic pearls, sweet balsamic sauce and basil. I was impressed by the large portion size, especially the size of the burrata, and although it didn’t need the addition of tart red onions on top of the already tart balsamic sauce, it was an irresistible dish.

I also tried the Carpaccio di Polpo - octopus carpaccio hill, rocket, parmesan, celery, red onions and capers. This also arrived as a large portion of carpaccio topping a rocket salad. Despite the size, the dish was light enough to finish without filling me out.

The star of the show at Piazza Italiana are the larger plates. I opted for the signature Tagliolini Al Tartufo – tagliolini with truffle sauce spun in a pecorino wheel at the table. It was great to see the pecorino cheese melting and then intertwining with the tagliolini, finally being plated up right in front of you.

Despite the carb heavy ingredients, the smooth silkiness of the pecorino and al dente taglioni was easy to enjoy and finish.

We also tried the Ravioli al Granchio - ravioli with white crab meat, lobster-tomato sauce, asparagus. The lobster-tomato sauce was divine and paired well with the white crab meat in the ravioli.

Even though we were quite stuffed at this point, we couldn’t forego dessert, and we were glad we didn’t.

I opted for the Tiramisu with coffee ice cream, which appeared as a square slice of spongy joy. They say the secret to a good tiramisu is the balance of cream, sponge and coffee - and this one had it spot on.

We also tried the Panacotta, which again wasn’t served as expected but instead sat in a rounded glass. The texture also wasn’t like jelly, but much more creamy and fluid.

The Drinks:

Piazza Italiana is one of those London restaurants with a well curated cocktail and wine list, as well as a dedicated sommelier to offer well paired suggestions.

Each of the wines have been hand-selected by the team, boasting unique options from across Italy, including the regions of Piedmont and Tuscany. The extensive list offers wines for every taste, with iconic producers and great vintages as well as classic and emerging producers from all over the world.

Cocktails are just as well thought out, with interesting serves like The Pearl – oyster and seaweed Piazza Italian gin, sharpened with botanical non-alcoholic gin and Elderflower Liqueur, garnished with sea wave foam, oysters and pearls.

The Price:

Piazza Italiana is a high end restaurant and the prices do match this.

Starters range from between £10-£16 and main courses can cost between £21-£35. Their exquisite cocktails are priced between £15 - £20, all of which could end up being a costly meal.

However the restaurant naturally lends itself to dining in for special occasions due to the professional service and opulent setting, making it worthy of the cost.

The Decor:

As well as the elegant main dining space, there is also private dining area for 12, the centrepiece being a stunning, round marble table, ideal for intimate celebrations.

Tucked away on the left-hand side of the restaurant is a gorgeous private dining area for 12, the centrepiece being a stunning, round marble table, ideal for intimate celebrations.

Towards the back of the restaurant is a semi-private area with its own bar counter, whilst upstairs by the main bar is another private dining room with its own bar and a display showcasing rare whiskies and cognacs.

Overall:

I’m surprised this restaurant hadn’t made it onto my radar earlier, as the entire experience was immensely enjoyable - from the professional and knowledgeable staff, high quality ingredients and the decadent setting.

The food definitely is a highlight here and we were particularly impressed with the main courses and dessert.

This is definitely a restaurant I’ll be returning to for special occasions and opulent evenings in London.